Discover the magic of The Big Peach with your family
Want to plan an unforgettable adventure in Atlanta with your family? Are you wondering what activities will engage your kids and stave off boredom? Luckily for you, Atlanta is brimming with entertaining and exhilarating family activities for all ages to enjoy.
Known as The Big Peach, Georgia’s state capital is known for its rich history, educational museums, enormous gardens, and entertaining family attractions. Its southern location makes it a great year-round destination, offering mild winters, warm falls and springs, and hot summers.
Whether your kids are young or all grown up, you’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy a visit to this buzzing and vibrant capital city together. Continue reading to learn more about our top tips for family-friendly things to do in Atlanta.
Discover and learn about the prettiest natural areas in Atlanta
Atlanta is filled with family-friendly outdoor spaces, including green parks, botanical gardens, nearby forests, and nature preserves. With an average of 217 sunny days per year, chances are that you’ll have plenty of sunshine and blue skies during your visit, offering the perfect opportunity to spend some time outdoors.
A visit to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens is one of the best things in Atlanta to do with kids. Since opening its doors in the mid-1970s, the garden has blossomed into one of the top attractions in the city. Spend the day exploring the 30-acre urban oasis, which is home to numerous blooming gardens with exotic plant species from around the world, revolving exhibitions, regular events, and educational classes.
Children can explore the enormous origami sculptures, as well as a children’s garden with a canopy walk. The children’s garden has many interactive features, like a splash pad and a water painting area. Explore the ever-changing exhibits, and if you’re there during winter, you’ll get to experience the gardens all lit up for the holidays. Each new season offers a different perspective of the gardens. Spring is a popular time to visit, with fresh colorful blooms and vibrant tulips everywhere you look.
You can easily spend the entire day here, exploring the different outdoor garden areas, fountains, and garden sculptures. Children and adults will all find something to enjoy here, making it one of the best family things to do in Atlanta.
A unique place that offers fun for kids (and grown-ups)
A trip to Atlanta simply isn’t complete without a visit to the iconic Ponce City Market. This vibrant landmark has it all. Set in a historic Sears building, the Ponce City Market boasts an expansive food hall, a fun selection of boutique and retail shops, and an entire amusement park on the rooftop. The perfect way to discover this marketplace is to make sure you have enough time to try it all: grab a meal, browse the shops, and save the best for last by trying all the amusement park rides.
The market’s central food hall boasts an incredible variety of dining and beverage options. You can grab breakfast, lunch, dinner, a snack, or a drink here. Eat your way around the globe with the international array of food stalls to choose from here, which include classic American fare, Indian street food, Cuban and Latino eateries, local breweries, burger joints, and so much more. Everyone in the family can grab whatever they’re craving, and then eat all together at one of the enormous food hall tables.
After you’ve filled your bellies, head to the shops to browse one-of-a-kind products and vendors. Here you can find everything from locally made cheeses and beers, to tarot card shops, to sustainable clothing boutiques, stunning jewelry, and more. You can also find well-known brands here including Lululemon, Sephora, Anthropologie, Madewell, and more.
Head to the rooftop of the market, Skyline Park, to enjoy a variety of amusement park rides, games, and more. It’s one of the best things to do in Atlanta with kids. For the ultimate experience, be sure to grab unlimited wristbands to try all the rides and entertainment options here. Kids will love playing the large variety of games and collecting prizes when they win. Play mini golf, enjoy fair-style games, and other nostalgic forms of entertainment. While your kids are enjoying themselves with all the games and rides, you can enjoy a nice beer or a non-alcoholic drink at the Rooftop Igloo. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon, where kids can let out their extra energy while having a blast.
When planning your Atlanta itinerary, be sure to schedule at least a full afternoon to dine, shop, and play at the Ponce City Market! Even better yet, visit around late afternoon or evening, so you can see the stunning, lit-up view of the city from the amusement park rooftop. It’s one of the best places to see in Atlanta at night!
An unforgettable day at Malibu Norcross
Do you and your family enjoy playing games and doing outdoor activities together? Are you wondering what to do in Atlanta to keep your kids entertained?
Malibu Norcross has all that and more! Just a 30-minute drive north of downtown Atlanta, the family-friendly theme park makes an easy day trip just outside the city. It’s one of the top options for family-friendly entertainment near Atlanta, with a wide range of activities, games, and rides which are guaranteed to keep you and your kids entertained for hours on end.
Discover go-karts, two mini golf courses, an enormous water play area, a batting cage, and a full game room filled with over 70 different video games. Family members of all ages, including young kids and grown-ups, will find plenty of ways to enjoy a day spent at Malibu Norcross.
Enjoy some fun and lighthearted competition on the go-karts as you race against your family members. The high performance go-karts can drive at wind-in-your-hair speeds, offering an exhilarating rush as you speed along straightaways, around hairpin turns, and banked curves.
Have a laugh-filled time on the Bumper Boats, where you can enjoy a little cruise and splash action all in one. The circular bumper boats can be easily steered so that you can “bump” into other boats along the way. For added excitement, splash your family members with the water cannon feature found in each bumper boat. It’s the perfect opportunity to soak and laugh along with your loved ones!
Gather the whole family around for some rounds of miniature golf. Malibu Norcross has two differently themed miniature golf courses with lush greens and 18 holes. Enjoy some friendly and fun competition with your family members to see who can get the best score!
Are you a baseball lover? Head over to the Batting Cages where you can practice your stroke with slow pitch softball and baseball machines, which can reach speeds up to 70 mph, depending on your preference. Balls, helmets, and bats are provided, all you need to bring is your best aim.
Want to show your kids some of your favorite video games from when you were their age? The game room boasts an incredible variety of arcade and video games, including old-school classics like Pac-Man and Skee-ball. Play air hockey, dance along with dance challenge video games, and be the first to play some of the hottest new video game releases.
There’s not a better place for kids to celebrate a memorable and fun birthday than at Malibu Norcross. The family-friendly park offers a variety of birthday packages, which include game cards, a party room, kids meals, tableware, set up, clean up and more. It’s the perfect way to throw your kid his or her dream birthday party alongside all of their friends without any of the stress on your plate.
Between all the fun and action, you’ll be sure to work up quite the appetite during your visit. Anytime you’re feeling the pangs of hunger, head over to the Malibu Café to refuel. Family members of all ages will find something to enjoy on the menu here, which offers a variety of delicious and satisfying options. Choose from delicious pizzas, hamburgers, hot dogs, or chicken tenders. If you aren’t hungry enough for a full meal, opt for the snack menu which offers pretzels, nachos, ice cream, and more. There are numerous daily healthy menu options, which include salads, veggie burgers, and grilled chicken sandwiches. Even picky eaters will find something to satisfy their hunger with excellent children’s menu options.
Browse the many ticket and season pass options to find the perfect one for your visit. There are numerous packages available, from all-day unlimited ride passes, to a simple mini-golf + 1 ride ticket. Learn more about tickets and pass options here.
Are you ready to spend a fun-filled day creating happy memories alongside your kids? What are you waiting for? Start planning your trip to Malibu Norcross today! It’s one of the best family-friendly things to do in Atlanta.
